Kevin D Cosplay

Kevin DiPlacido is a veteran cosplayer from the Southern New Jersey/Philadelphia area.

He grew up in Deptford NJ, and currently owns a home in Williamstown, NJ with his girlfriend Beckie.

Cosplay takes up a large part of his life, along with his full time job, and birthday party entertainment business.

He has been cosplaying for 25 years, and has always loved Spider-man and Batman as far back as he can remember.

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Characters Cosplayed:

Batman (Various Versions), Spiderman, The Crow, Captain America (Various Versions), Superman, Deathstroke, General Zod (2 versions), Deadshot, Captain Hook, Robin Hood, James Bond, Santa Claus, Power Rangers, Green Lantern, Darth Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Professor Zoom

1. Who or what inspired you to cosplay?

My kids were my first real inspiration. My friends are my second.

I started to cosplay 25 years ago with a friend. He had bought a Rubies Batman costume and I made my own Spiderman costume. It wasn’t much to look at, but I did have a lot of fun making it. This was before it was even called Cosplay, and before social media. We would go to a local comic book shop called Riddle Me This in Collingwood NJ. We also went in costume to the comic con in NY. It was a lot smaller than it is now. In a hotel. Not long after that my daughter Angelia was on the way, and it didn’t take me long to realize I needed extra income. I took a job with a local party entertainment company. My first character was to be Tommy The White Power Ranger. At that time I had long hair that I kept in a ponytail, so it worked well, since Tommy had the same. I also costumed as Jason the Red Power Ranger. In those days, the Power Rangers were huge! I did many parties as The White Power Ranger. Not long after that I started my own company, Partyman Entertainment. I started buying my own mascot costumes, and making other super hero costumes.

The parties kept me in costumes, but I didn’t have many friends that did the comic con thing. My son Matthew was around 14 at the time and he was always into comics, so we started going to comic cons together. I had a better Spiderman costume at that point. Margaret Waite Athletic Designs had made one for me. A very nice dye sub. Tim Lane also made me an excellent movie version. I had also made my own Batman costume. My son wanted to cosplay, so I made him a Nightwing costume. We would do the Philly Comic con, and the NY Comic Con every year. His friends even got involved, and would wear my costumes as well.

My son has since moved on from cosplay, but now I have all my amazingly talented friends that I’ve made over the years.

2. What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying? (hobbies, community service, or work)

I am very much involved with entertaining at kids parties and events, as well as charity events. I’m a member of the Pennsylvania Branch of the Heroes Alliance. Their events along with my own keep my quite busy on the weekends. During the week I’m a Product Mechanical Designer. CAD design. That’s been my career for 23 years. Hobbies are of course cosplay, movies, comics. I also enjoy spending time with my girlfriend Beckie, and my family. My animals take up a lot of my time also. 2 dogs Max and Princess, 2 cats Smokey and Cookie, a bird Stewie, and our bunny Valentino.

3. What costumes have provided the biggest challenge and rewards so far and why?

I really enjoy being well known heroes. Batman and Captain America are always fun to be. I can be them for charity events, parties, and cons. Kids always love those two.

Lately I’ve really been enjoying portraying villains. General Zod has really been fun to be. The challenge with Zod is that he doesn’t wear a mask or helmet. I have to use my own face and facial hair to create the look. Same as with Robin Hood, and Deadshot. I do love that part though. Also, it’s not as warm!

I love putting my own spin on costumes. Really making them my own. If I feel something would look better, then I’ll do it that way, even if it isn’t accurate.

4. What is the best advice you would give someone new to cosplaying?

Just have fun, and don’t be afraid to make friends in the hobby. Do not take it all that serious. You can be whoever you want to be.

5. What is one thing the cosplaying community can do better when it comes to dealing with each other?

Again, don’t be so serious. When you really look at it, we’re all just a bunch of nerds dressing up and having fun.

Be friends. No such thing as having too many friends. I see a lot of friends not talking and having quarrels with each other. Life is too short for that!